Photos: Body-Cam\Office of New York Attorney General

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) today condemned the brutal killing of Robert Brooks, who was beaten to death by a group of corrections officers at the Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York. LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson issued the following statement:

“The Legal Defense Fund condemns the sadistic and violent killing of Robert Brooks in the strongest terms possible. The video released of Brooks’ final moments is gut-wrenching and horrifying. The group of corrections officers in the video beat and terrorized a human being who was shackled, restrained, and showed no signs of provocation. The officers in the video, who are at times seen smiling in apparent enjoyment of the brutal ordeal, displayed unimaginable cruelty and a callous disregard for human life. They should be brought to justice and fully held to account.

“This horrific attack is not an isolated incident – it reflects a broader, systemic failure to protect the dignity, humanity, and safety of human beings behind bars. It also is a stark reminder of the grievous harms of mass incarceration, which has disproportionately devastated the lives of countless Black families and communities. The failure to protect incarcerated people’s basic rights, combined with corrections officers seemingly unfettered discretion with little to no oversight, too often creates an environment that facilitates rampant human rights violations and unspeakable crimes like those suffered by Robert Brooks. LDF applauds the New York Attorney General for her office’s swift investigation of this heinous crime. Let this painfully dehumanizing video serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to replace what is an unquestionably barbaric carceral system with a public safety framework that serves and protects us all. We must also work to immediately improve the conditions and safety of the almost two million people who are held in our jails and prisons – the largest incarcerated population in the world.”

Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. 

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Photos: Body-Cam Shots

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today released body-worn camera footage that her office obtained as part of its ongoing investigation into the death of Robert Brooks, who died on December 10, 2024 after an encounter with New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in Marcy, Oneida County.

On December 9, Mr. Brooks was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility, both in Oneida County. Mr. Brooks, who was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, was then taken to a medical examination room where the events captured in the video took place. Mr. Brooks was then transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of December 10.

The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) of the Attorney General’s Office released video from body-worn cameras that four correction officers were equipped with during the incident. The footage includes both the four videos at their full length and versions of the four videos cropped to show only images of Mr. Brooks and the officers’ interactions with Mr. Brooks. The release of this footage follows Attorney General James’ directive that camera footage obtained by her office during an OSI investigation be released to the public to increase transparency and strengthen public trust in these matters.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

The release of this footage is not an expression of any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of any party in a criminal matter or any opinion as to how or whether any individual may be charged with a crime.

Warning: This video contains content that viewers may find disturbing.

The post Video Showing Beating Death Of Black Man By Hands Of New York Correction Officers Released appeared first on Black Star News.

Photos: Video Screenshot\Greece Police Department

NEW YORK – On December 9, Robert L. Brooks, an incarcerated man at Marcy Correctional Facility, was reportedly physically assaulted by correction officers while in handcuffs. He died the following day. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union released the following statement attributable to Executive Director Donna Lieberman: 

“The NYCLU is extremely disturbed by the death of Robert L. Brooks, after he was allegedly brutally attacked by correction officers while in handcuffs. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Brooks’s death demand a full investigation and transparency, which starts with releasing the full body camera footage without delay. 

“Unfortunately, Mr. Brooks’s fatal beating is not an isolated incident. Rather, it highlights a culture of violence and a lack of accountability for wrongdoing by corrections officers that puts the lives of incarcerated New Yorkers at risk.  

“No one should die in custody at the hands of corrections officers, who are charged with the safety and security of individuals in DOCCS’s facilities. Mr. Brooks’s family and all New Yorkers deserve transparency and accountability.” 

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